VOA慢速英语2021--夏末秋初的无酒精饮料

Alcohol-free Drinks for Late Summer, Early Autumn

Some people do not want to drink alcohol but still want to enjoy a special drink at a celebration, party, or a night out with friends.

In the recent past in the United States, those people had limited choices. They could celebrate with overly-sweet, non-alcoholic¹ wine or watery² non-alcoholic beer.

Well, not anymore.

As more people decide to cut out alcohol, there are more choices of non-alcoholic drinks. Drink makers³ are creating beverages⁵ that are tastier, more interesting, and even healthy.

Interest in not drinking alcohol has been growing for years. Now there are more choices at restaurants and drinking place called bars. Some bars now even specialize in alcohol-free drinks.

The pandemic led some people to examine alcohol. For health or weight loss reasons, many people cut down or just stopped altogether. In the U.S, brothers Massimo and Louis Borrelli noted⁶ a growing interest for non-alcoholic drinks during the pandemic.

Europe, and Britain in particular, have been leaders of the high quality, non-alcoholic drinks market. Borrelli said that three years ago, there were only about 15 to 20 good non-alcoholic products available. Now, he says, there are over 200 with more coming.

So, back in October 2020, they created an online marketplace for non-alcoholic beverages. They called it No & Low.

Louis Borelli says there are three main kinds of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol products for sale at No & Low.

First, are products that re-create individual alcohols like rum and gin, but without the alcohol content.

Second, he said, are mocktails, mixed drinks that do not contain alcohol. Many mocktails include some of the flavors found in alcoholic drinks.

And third, Borrelli said, are drinks that are "all their own thing." They do not try to copy alcoholic drinks but instead offer a different drinking experience. He added that many of these products are often good for you.

Tips from an expert

On the website TheKitchn, food and drink writer Kelli Foster offers some tips, or advice, on how to make your own mocktails.

She suggests using fresh, seasonal⁷ items available in your area. With cooler autumn temperatures, use flavors like pear, apple, sage⁸, and rosemary. In summery, warm temperatures, try peach, watermelon, mango, mint, and basil.

She says balancing flavors is critical to making a good drink. Some non-alcoholic drinks can be too sweet. So, she suggests adding sour and bitter flavors to balance out the sweet. For sour flavors she says to use fruits like citrus, cranberries⁹, and tamarind. Different vinegars can also add sour flavor.

And do not forget spices that add heat. Cinnamon, star anise, and ginger¹⁰ can spice up your drink. You can even use peppercorns for extra heat and flavor. These warmer spices are especially nice for cooler summer or autumn nights.

Make the drinks look as pretty as alcoholic cocktails¹². Use a pretty glass. And add a garnish¹³. This could be a flower, a piece of fruit, or an herb that rests on the glass.

A good garnish not only makes the drink prettier, but sometimes they tell you about the drink. A drink garnished¹⁴ with lemon or mint probably contains those flavors.

Words in This Story

beverage⁴ – n. a drinkable liquid

mocktail – n. a nonalcoholic cocktail¹¹ : a "fake" cocktail : a usually iced drink made with any of various ingredients (such as juice, herbs, and soda¹⁵ water) but without alcohol a usually iced drink of wine or distilled¹⁶ liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients mock + cocktail = mocktail

tip – n. a piece of useful or secret information

flavor – n. a particular type of taste

sour – adj. having an acid taste that is like the taste of a lemon

bitter – adj. having a strong and sometimes unpleasant flavor that is the opposite of sweet

spice – n. a substance (such as pepper or nutmeg) that is used in cooking to add flavor to food and that comes from a dried plant and is usually a powder or seed

garnish – n. something (such as small pieces of fruit, chopped herbs, etc.) that is put on food as a decoration

1 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

2 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

3 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

5 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

8 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

9 cranberries   

n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tart flavour of the cranberries adds piquancy. 越橘的酸味很可口。
• Look at the fresh cranberries. 你看这些新鲜的蔓越橘。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话

10 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

11 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

12 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句

13 garnish   

n.装饰，添饰，配菜

参考例句：

• The turkey was served with a garnish of parsley.做好的火鸡上面配上芫荽菜做点缀。
• The sandwiches came with a rather limp salad garnish.三明治配着蔫软的色拉饰菜。

14 garnished   

v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her robes were garnished with gems. 她的礼服上装饰着宝石。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Serve the dish garnished with wedges of lime. 给这道菜配上几角酸橙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

16 distilled   

adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华

参考例句：

• The televised interview was distilled from 16 hours of film. 那次电视采访是从16个小时的影片中选出的精华。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gasoline is distilled from crude oil. 汽油是从原油中提炼出来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》